Kashmiri Pandits Condemn Killing Of Father, Child In Shopian

24 July 2009The Indian Express

Srinagar: Condemning the killing of a three-year-old boy and his father in Shopian in south Kashmir, a Kashmiri pandit outfit on Friday said the stand of separatists over the issue was “regrettable”. “In recent months, killings of some members of Kashmiri society erupted violence all over the Valley, which was supported by separatists. But separatists’ silence over the atrocities by militants is deplorable,” said Sanjay K Tickoo, president of Kashmiri Pandit Sangrash Samiti, an outfit of non-migrant community members. Hizbul Mujahideen militants shot dead Mohammad Aslam and his son Mohammad Arif after barging into their house at Dunardu village in Keller, 65 kms from here, yesterday. Aslam was fired upon indiscriminately by Hizbul militants and Arif was in his lap when the incident took place. He had survived a similar attempt by militants earlier on April 15 but his mother Reshma (50) fell to the bullets of the ultras. The killing of seven more persons, including two young women, at the hands of militants in the town during the last two months also went unnoticed. Shopian had observed complete shutdown for 47 days to protest against the alleged rape and murder of two women.